Kami-sama no Inai Nichiyoubi Volume 1 Afterword

Afterword

I’ve always wanted to write about miracles.

I’ve always wanted to paint with sweeping brushstrokes stories of grand destinies: the kind like the sun that marches tirelessly down as it sets, the kind as confused and chaotic as a fairy tale’s conclusion, the kind as implacable as the asphalt we tread underfoot. While I can’t tell if I’ve succeeded in this or not, at the very least I’ve put pen to paper, and finally finished this story.

I hope all of you enjoyed reading this very much.

Hello, readers; nice to meet you. I am Kimihito Irie.

This tale of miracles was written with the above thoughts in mind, and was lucky enough to win the Grand Prize in the 21st Fantasia Awards. Then it was published. When I received the news that night, I could only feel that this whole experience was itself more miraculous; and this thought took root inside of my mind and tickled me to a good while of laughter. Indeed, I had never thought that my life could be more strange and wonderful than a story I myself had written.

But reality isn’t that simple, and it didn’t end just with my receiving of the congratulations. The days to follow were thus spent amid a great frenzy of activity.

Under the editor’s direction I amended, kept the same, or revised already-revised sections; and in this way half a year’s time receded in the blink of an eye, bringing me here to this day.

In the course of our journey together—no, even before then—both this book and I constantly received the help and support of numerous people.

There’s Editor-in-Chief K , that goes without saying; and as for the others there’s illustrator Shino-sensei, the judging committee, my parents, my ancestors, friends, people alive, people dead—and the one reading this right now, you.

I want to take this opportunity to thanks these people from the depths of my heart.

Thank you very much.

How should I say this? The feelings of gratitude within me are so strong that I could confuse them for ones of love.

Alright, now that the confession’s over I’ll be doing a little advertising. Dragon Magazine gave me a bit of space for a short story in their 2010 3rd Issue, which will be going on sale on the same day as this book in Japan. It’s a separate story describing events which happened to Ai two years ago. I’ve also heard that I can start work on the second book now. It’s just that I’m still not too sure about the actual situation right now (such as, for instance, the first volume selling terribly badly), so I hope that those of you who liked this book continue to give your support.

In that case, it looks like we’ll be meeting again in volume two.

Kimihito Irie